Please keep this in mind

DThomas · 09-29-2008, 02:23 AM

In many cases when people reject the gospel, it has less to do with the gospel and more to do with the way it was presented to them.

I heard the pastor of a friend say this in a sermon and I've taken it to heart. A lot of Christians think the more they talk about how much more they "know" about God and what happens after death, the person they're talking to will have to be convinced. It's easy to come off as having a superiority complex this way. After all, the person you're talking to doesn't know these things or if you have good reasons for believing them, and yet you're telling them their beliefs are wrong. If you consider the point of view of the person being evangelized to, you can see why they often feel they're being beaten over the head with a Bible.

I'd like to share this passage from the book, The Mind in the Making, which is quoted in Dale Carnegie's book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (highly recommend this non-Christian book as it teaches you a lot about dealing with people in general and especially difficult people).

Quote:

Originally Posted by from the book How to Win Friends and Influence People

We sometimes find ourselves changing our minds without any resistance or heavy emotion, but if we are told we are wrong, we resent the imputation and harden our hearts. We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposes to rob us of their companionship. It is obviously not the ideas themselves that are dear to us, but our self-esteem which is threatened.

So please, don't start a conversation about Jesus by telling someone they are wrong.

TommyStrand · 09-29-2008, 08:49 AM

That's right. We just need to let the holy spirit move us and do whatever God wants us to in that situation. There is no textbook answer on how to deal with everyone. God gives us wisdom in His word, and studying it, while living with God will show us how to approach everyone.

Duo · 09-29-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DThomas

In many cases when people reject the gospel, it has less to do with the gospel and more to do with the way it was presented to them.

I heard the pastor of a friend say this in a sermon and I've taken it to heart. A lot of Christians think the more they talk about how much more they "know" about God and what happens after death, the person they're talking to will have to be convinced. It's easy to come off as having a superiority complex this way. After all, the person you're talking to doesn't know these things or if you have good reasons for believing them, and yet you're telling them their beliefs are wrong. If you consider the point of view of the person being evangelized to, you can see why they often feel they're being beaten over the head with a Bible.

I'd like to share this passage from the book, The Mind in the Making, which is quoted in Dale Carnegie's book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (highly recommend this non-Christian book as it teaches you a lot about dealing with people in general and especially difficult people).

So please, don't start a conversation about Jesus by telling someone they are wrong.

This is actually why most Christians fail in spreading the word of Christ, because they act the complete opposite of your post when addressing others.

So seriously I gratz you on grasping that concept.

TommyStrand · 09-30-2008, 03:18 PM

I am 100% against "friendship evangelism". Evangelism shouldnt take time, remember one day Jesus will return, and it is too late to continue with the "evangelism process". But being friends with everyone AS FAR as it is up to us, is ordered by God, so that's a good thing.

EaglesWings · 04-20-2009, 10:39 AM

TommyStrand, I couldn't disagree more. Here's the reality - people come to Christ because Christians establish a relationship with them and display the gospel truth (whether friends, family, coworkers, etc.) Door-to-door campaigns, evangelistic crusades, and accosting people in the streets are not effective, and here's why. Without a relationship with Christian disciples to encourage, teach, correct, etc., it is incredibly difficult for someone to hold to the faith.

Having a real relationship with someone where we demonstrate Christ's love gives us the right to speak the words of the Gospel into someone's life. Now, I agree that we shouldn't look at our unsaved friends as "projects"...the sharing of the Gospel should be part of the natural outpouring of our love toward them, not a project or a program.

Incidentally, if you were trying to do evangelism in Asia, your bias of "Evangelism shouldn't take time" would be seen as incredibly offensive to them, according to Ravi Zacharias. They do not respond well to the American missionaries who talk to them for a few minutes and then launch into the Romans Road or some other gospel sharing system.

Londie · 04-23-2009, 02:23 PM

Not trying to derail, just wanted to make a quick note.

The man Eagles speaks of, Ravi Zacharias, is amazing. I listen to him every sunday morning on the radio on my way to church. I can't get enough of his messages

Ruzan · 06-05-2009, 08:31 AM

As cliche as it sounds, I heard Kirk Cameron preaching to a biker gang on tv the other night (I know, just.... I know lol).

He was saying that Imagine you are in court for stealing something. They have you on video, there is no way out, and the judge says you must pay the cost of the item plus court costs or go to jail. You are broke and the sum of the costs is way out of your range.

A man walks in from the back of the room and says to the court that he would like to give you his money to pay your debts so you don't have to go to jail if you will just love him and accept him.

The theft was your sin, the judgment was hell, and the savior is Jesus.

Putting it into context like that helped those biker guys a little. He didn't put them down or come out screaming how they were wrong and were going to hell (even if that is the truth), instead he attempted to speak a language that they could understand, with consequences they could understand. It was very cool.

09-29-2008, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
TommyStrand Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandnes, Norway Posts: 151 My Photos: (0)	Re: Please keep this in mind That's right. We just need to let the holy spirit move us and do whatever God wants us to in that situation. There is no textbook answer on how to deal with everyone. God gives us wisdom in His word, and studying it, while living with God will show us how to approach everyone.

09-30-2008, 03:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
TommyStrand Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandnes, Norway Posts: 151 My Photos: (0)	Re: Please keep this in mind I am 100% against "friendship evangelism". Evangelism shouldnt take time, remember one day Jesus will return, and it is too late to continue with the "evangelism process". But being friends with everyone AS FAR as it is up to us, is ordered by God, so that's a good thing.

04-20-2009, 10:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
EaglesWings Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 13 My Photos: (0)	Re: Please keep this in mind TommyStrand, I couldn't disagree more. Here's the reality - people come to Christ because Christians establish a relationship with them and display the gospel truth (whether friends, family, coworkers, etc.) Door-to-door campaigns, evangelistic crusades, and accosting people in the streets are not effective, and here's why. Without a relationship with Christian disciples to encourage, teach, correct, etc., it is incredibly difficult for someone to hold to the faith. Having a real relationship with someone where we demonstrate Christ's love gives us the right to speak the words of the Gospel into someone's life. Now, I agree that we shouldn't look at our unsaved friends as "projects"...the sharing of the Gospel should be part of the natural outpouring of our love toward them, not a project or a program. Incidentally, if you were trying to do evangelism in Asia, your bias of "Evangelism shouldn't take time" would be seen as incredibly offensive to them, according to Ravi Zacharias. They do not respond well to the American missionaries who talk to them for a few minutes and then launch into the Romans Road or some other gospel sharing system.

04-23-2009, 02:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Londie Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 76 My Photos: (0)	Re: Please keep this in mind Not trying to derail, just wanted to make a quick note. The man Eagles speaks of, Ravi Zacharias, is amazing. I listen to him every sunday morning on the radio on my way to church. I can't get enough of his messages __________________ "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

06-05-2009, 08:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ruzan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 105 My Photos: (1)	Re: Please keep this in mind As cliche as it sounds, I heard Kirk Cameron preaching to a biker gang on tv the other night (I know, just.... I know lol). He was saying that Imagine you are in court for stealing something. They have you on video, there is no way out, and the judge says you must pay the cost of the item plus court costs or go to jail. You are broke and the sum of the costs is way out of your range. A man walks in from the back of the room and says to the court that he would like to give you his money to pay your debts so you don't have to go to jail if you will just love him and accept him. The theft was your sin, the judgment was hell, and the savior is Jesus. Putting it into context like that helped those biker guys a little. He didn't put them down or come out screaming how they were wrong and were going to hell (even if that is the truth), instead he attempted to speak a language that they could understand, with consequences they could understand. It was very cool. __________________ "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9